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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2022

999 replies

SkaterGrrrrl · 27/05/2021 14:25

I watched with interest the information and support on this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4177427-PART-3-SW-London-Girls-Indies-11-Results-Decisions-Panic-Over and wanted to start the same thread for South West London parents with daughters who will be applying for secondaries (independents and grammar) for places in year 7 in Sept 2022.

Where are you applying, how are the virtual open days going..... and to tutor or not to tutor?

OP posts:
Glaciferous · 11/02/2022 15:47

For anyone wondering about extra costs for SPGS, I have a DD in Y10.

Books add up to around £200 a year if bought new and it is definitely possible to find secondhand copies for less money.

Sports kit - we spent about £300 initially. We have had to replace only a couple of things - swimsuit and tracksuit bottoms which ended up a little short/tight. Everything else I bought still fits and in any case they are pretty relaxed at this age about sports uniform unless playing in a team. Don't think DD is going to grow much more so I doubt I will have to buy anything else. There are things we bought that we barely used too, mainly the cotton hoodie. DD prefers the warm base layer and mid-layer on a cold day. The sports socks are super comfortable, and DD wears them loads in and out of school. She also really loves the tracksuit bottoms. She had abandoned the skort by Y8.

Trips have been inexpensive, maybe £100ish a year for compulsory stuff, probably less. I think Geographers do a compulsory residential which is more.

There are trips in the holidays which are more expensive but they are not compulsory and it will absolutely not be the case that anyone feels left out if they don't go as places are very limited. DD wants to go on a History trip next year which is £650 for a week in the hols.

Hope this is a bit helpful. Well done to everybody's DDs!

squirrelofsw19 · 11/02/2022 16:02

@highropes you might be right. Just got an email for a taster event at WHS which says “by now you will have received the offer”. We still haven’t but this looks more promising than the radiosilence we’ve had all day!

refusetobeasheep · 11/02/2022 16:13

Email from KGS arrived! So can now release all but KGS and Claremont. Then as a family we have to agree ...! DD loved her taster day at Claremont today. Definitely her favourite. But it's 45 mins in the school coach versus cycling in / a few stops on the bus. Any advice welcome!!!

1309usernameu · 11/02/2022 16:59

@refusetobeasheep, we just turned down Emanuel because Claremont is a more straight forward commute for my DD.

It was also her favourite and had a lovely time at the event this morning, so the decision was easiest for us.

Best of luck with your decision!

SW17cleocat · 11/02/2022 17:25

Squirrel - same happened to us with Jags yesterday, got info about the bus routes and a congrats email addressed to my daughter but no actual offer. Came much with an apology

SW17cleocat · 11/02/2022 17:27

*came much later with an apology

HighRopes · 11/02/2022 17:37

I had the same with Surbiton - email invite to offer holders day arrived the day before the letter. And dd got a nice card from Sutton saying well done several days before we got the formal offer letter, though they said they put them in the same post.

AliW79 · 11/02/2022 18:02

Lovely to hear all the offers coming in. We’re in the very fortunate position of choosing between jags whs and Putney with music offers for all. DD is a quirky bright musical extrovert but reacts badly to sausage factory academic environments. Also needs an inspiring musical environment .We’re leaning towards WHS. any thoughts welcome. Obvs going to all offer days

popcorn925 · 11/02/2022 18:44

Trave

popcorn925 · 11/02/2022 18:45

@travelturtle Ibstock emailed today

travelturtle · 11/02/2022 18:56

@popcorn925 yes thanks just seen it. Emanuel and Ibstock offers received. Much relief. Well done to everyone with offers and good luck to those still waiting.

Mystery2345 · 12/02/2022 07:19

@FiloPasty

Been following this thread as I went through last year, the waiting is brutal. One note about wait lists though, giving up a spot won’t necessarily mean it will go to wait list straight away as most of the schools over offer. I’d advise emailing the school if you are waitlisted, if it is your top choice and letting them know that. They probably won’t tell you now where you are on the wait list but will in a couple of weeks when they’ve collated everything.
Yes, understand this re wait lists. We just have to wait. I’ve emailed the registrar to say how it’s our first choice (it absolutely was and is!). DD took the news OK, asked if it mattered that she hadn’t got a firm offer anywhere (I said of course not and I was waitlisted for school etc etc and everyone finds a spot eventually). Trying to put it out of our minds now as there will be no movement for at least a few weeks as everyone with offers figured things out.
NewToTwickenham · 12/02/2022 10:45

Hi,

Well done to all the dd for working so hard and thanks to all those on the thread - I have been lurking but found it all so useful.

My dd has an offer from Putney but we have only had an email. Has anyone received anything by post at all?

SophyRivenhall · 12/02/2022 11:09

Thanks @LAgirl. I hope your DD got good news from the other two schools she was waiting to hear from yesterday.
@FiloPasty, understood re waiting lists. It just means the uncertainty carries on for longer!
I hope everyone has a relaxing half term. We're going away for the first time since January 2020 as we really need a break.

Pigtastic · 12/02/2022 11:24

We have just released the KGS offer this morning and by the end of the weekend we are planning to release also PHS, Emanuel and G&L as DD is oriented towards LU. Her sister goes there.
We are just talking to other parents re PHS and G&L to make sure that we don’t make the wrong decision.

We are going away tomorrow and we are looking forward for few days of relax!

I hope everyone enjoys the half term break!

swgeek · 12/02/2022 14:07

DD got a KGS offer yesterday, we are thrilled. Will choose between KGS and Epsom, not easy. We only received the email, not the actual letter. Has anyone actually released the letter? Is there a KGS offer holders day? Would love to know details as we now have to wait for the post on Monday.

puzzledmom · 12/02/2022 14:07

We went through waitlist process recently with 7 plus and it was stressful. DS was on waitlist for 2 months for SPJ. Basically same boys got offers for all schools and mums on Mumsnet were very helpful and would post on releasing offers but it didn't make a difference because of over offers. Waitlist only moved on the date of acceptance deadline. Don't know if girls process will be same but sharing if it helps.

firefly123 · 12/02/2022 14:22

Hi @NewToTwickenham. Congratulations on your PHS offer. Does the email have all the paperwork attached? If do I wouldn't think it would be posted also

NewToTwickenham · 12/02/2022 16:16

Thanks @firefly123, I think I must have got some that I missed the link Grin

refusetobeasheep · 12/02/2022 17:26

@swgeek we only have KGS email too - nothing arrived in today's post. Presumably Monday ..

Norwoodmummy · 12/02/2022 20:41

Hi. Been lurking. DD was lucky to receive some lovely offers. She is absolutely set on JAGS, so we will be releasing some places on Monday including Emanuel, FHRP and SCHS. Wishing luck for those with DDs on waiting list. X

SW17cleocat · 12/02/2022 22:40

Norwoodmummy - well done your DD. We applied to similar schools as you. No from Emanuel, yes from JAGS and waitlist for WHS. We haven’t received SCHS yet, was not in the post today or yesterday. Our post is so awful here! Also dead set on JAGS here and will be accepting it!

SW2022 · 13/02/2022 01:36

Does anyone know if Alleyn's are organising an event for the offer holders? My Dd was fortunate to get an offer from them but I could not find any infor if any visits will be offered. We will be releasing KGS and Emanuel over the weekend and deciding between Alleyns/WHS/JAGS (my dd likes co ed so probably Alleyns will be the winner). Hopefully this will help with the waiting lists...

HighRopes · 13/02/2022 08:49

I also think Putney is just electronic. It’s funny, I love getting the emails (our post is rubbish) but my dd has been happier with paper letters and leaflets etc to look at. And I would have liked the personalised letter that SPGS did a few years ago with comments on dd’s exam / interview, as well as the generic email. We got personalised ones from WHS and Surbiton, and it felt like they had a sense of dd, which I liked.

In terms of the process, I think WHS got it right - email (though just the offer letter as an attachment would have been less confusing than lots of attachments) and then the full pack by post.

greenwicharlotte · 13/02/2022 09:06

@SW2022 The offer letter from Alleyn’s didn’t mention open days but an email was sent after the interviews - I got ours 1st Feb from registrar if that helps you find yours - saying offer holders would receive an invitation to an open day session on Wed/Thur/Fri 23/24/25. So assume we should get more on that next week.